December 24th, 2012

Kerry pounded and pounded on the door. Something had changed overnight, or during the day, she had no idea what time it was outside. But she did know that something was wrong. Finally her energy sapped and she sagged to the floor, a hand to her belly, tears in her eyes., "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Regina burst into the room, "What happened?"

"Don't kn-" Pain ripped through Kerry and she pinned Regina with a searing look, "The North Pole has magic-" Kerry glanced around the room, "Real... magic. I'm not- this isn't- they're doing to die- just like little Catherine did years ago, and it's your fault- Ahhh..."

There was just the littlest bit of worry in Regina's eyes and Kerry tried to make that blossom even as the pain assaulted all her senses. "You'll lose. I'm not magic- whatever you're trying to win, you'll lose it, whatever you're fighting for."

"My son Henry. They say change- I say how, and do, and yet still- no matter what I do- it's not enough, it's never enough to be in their little club. I save Emma and her... mother, nothing. It drains me in a way no one in this town understand, and still I don't get trusted. I change and change and change for him, for them... and they laugh." Her eyes got a stormy look in them, "I'm sick of how every single time one of them gets a hangnail- I'm the one they come to first, interrogate first, me- not the man whose nickname is The Dark One, me, always me, so- your twins, when they're born, they're will be power, so much power, and then. I'll win. Somehow, I will show them all-"

Kerry got out four words through gritted teeth, "Only if they're born..."

Regina frowned and Kerry somehow managed to stay silent as it seemed her body was ripping itself apart. Finally Regina held out a hand, "Take it- I think this'll work." Kerry took Regina's hand and what seemed like a magic bubble encased both of them.

Carol sat straight up in the unfamiliar bed. Her eyes went to the window. "What time is it? Willow, it's dark, you let me sleep. I have to rescue her, I..."

Willow appeared in the doorway, "Oh, I didn't know... I mean, it's still only Christmas Eve, and I thought..."

Carol shook her head, trying to get the sleep out of her system as she headed for the back door. "No, I should have... I didn't think I hit my head that hard. Thank you Willow. Oh... and you might want to answer your front door."

As Carol climbed onto the reindeer indeed the door bell rang. Carol gave a wave, and then shot into the sky. Willow slowly made her way through the house and finally opened the door. Her mouth dropped open so far that it looked a little like the Santa fireplace at the North Pole. "You're... but... Tara?"

"Ready to go to church?"

Bianca put an arm around Marissa and shivered a little. They were in their backyard, in between the main house and the pool house. "Almost. AJ has taken it upon himself to make sure that Gabrielle stays up for the entire service."

Marissa smiled, "I think that's a losing battle, even with all the sugar she's eaten today."

Bianca chuckled, "You think she eats a lot on Christmas Eve, just wait until tomorrow."

Marissa hugged Bianca closer to her, "I can't wait. Each and every holiday, each and every day with you, the girls and AJ is special."

"Oh my..." Bianca looked where Marissa was pointing, "I think, it looked like someone was... flying on an animal."

Bianca kissed the side of Marissa's head, "Probably a shooting star. Want to wish on it?"

Marissa smiled, "Nah, I have more than I've ever wished for right now."

Bianca raised her eyebrows, "Even including my mother."

Marissa chuckled, "Yes, even including Erica Kane." She looked back at the house, "We should probably get back inside before the kids go totally stir crazy."

"This was a good idea Rick."

Castle winced, "Was my mother driving you too too insane?"

Beckett smiled and put her arm through Castle's, "Nah, but, fresh air is good, even if it is cold out."

"Kate..."

"Shhh... there is no talking, no worrying, no anything..."

"No murder?"

Beckett winced, "Well, I am on call..."

Castle shook his head, "Not tonight. Hey... was that..."

"Rick. Santa isn't real."

Castle pursed his lips, watching as whatever it was, faded away, going towards the east. "So says you. We'll see..."

Beckett laughed, "We'll see?"

Castle stopped them, and faced Beckett, "Well, maybe we won't..." And pulled her into a kiss.

Maura and Jane stood arm in arm in the courtyard between the guest house and Maura's place. "It's beautiful tonight. Clear... I thought they said it was going to snow?"

Maura shook her head, "That's just a ruse that the local meteorologists use so as to give their audience hope for what the song prescribes. If you listen to their forecast as it has gotten closer to Christmas Eve they've..."

Jane smiled and gave Maura a squeeze as she cut her off, "I get it, I get it- they lie until it's too late so that they don't get hate mail. Still- it's nice to see the stars." Jane frowned, "That wasn't a star. That- no-" Jane looked towards Maura, "Tell me that was in my head?"

Maura blinked and after a moment shook her head, "No, I believe we saw a humanoid figure of some sort riding on some species of deer, possibly reindeer. Jane. Do you know the time?"

Jane shook her head and looked over at Maura, "The time? Eight thirty, almost nine pm, why?"

"I just, I want to remember the exact time." Maura reached up and put a hand on the back of Jane's head and pulled her in for a kiss. It started tentatively for both of them, but after a couple of beats it was as if Jane melted into Maura. Two became, for a few moments, one.

Even though she hadn't pulled away during the kiss, when they separated a bit to catch their breaths Jane had a confused look on her face, "Maura?"

Maura tried to take a step back and to get out of Jane's arms, but Jane didn't let her go. "I'm sorry."

"Why?"

"Because we should have talked about it first, or..."

Jane cut Maura off again as gently as she could, "No, why did you kiss me?"

Maura pulled away a little again, but Jane still wouldn't let her go. "Jane- let go."

Jane did so and a deep frown took over her face, "Maura, I- please, tell me what's going on inside your head. I don't get it."

Maura crossed her arms over her chest and looked back up at the sky, "Gabe- Casey- I now find myself... jealous... of them. Not a fun emotion."

Jane started to take a step forward and put a hand on Maura's shoulder in comfort, but at the last second pulled her hand back, "Maura- you're the best friend I've ever had. I l-"

"Please. Please don't say what you were going to say Jane. Not now. And, I'm not jealous of your friendship with them, I may not be an A+ student when it comes to emotions, but I do know what I'm feeling, I'm jealous of... other things."

"Oh- ohhh-" Jane was glad that it was dark as she blushed deeply, "Right-" She cleared her throat, "But... we're nothing alike. Aren't you the one who said that those who come from generally the same background fall in love. We're nothing alike."

"I know Jane, believe me, I know." She took her gaze from the sky and finally looked at Jane again. "I have tried to reason with myself. Puzzle out what else, if anything else could be going on. Before now, before you, I have only ever had feelings for me. Please believe me Jane. I never meant... I've tried so hard, but..."

Jane finished Maura's sentence, "...the feeling won't go away." Jane gently took a hold of Maura's hand and pulled the blonde doctor towards her, "Hey, it's not like my relationships with guys-"

"Don't, Jane..."

"No, no," Jane sighed, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't joke. Joking is my go to though, without joking."

Maura smiled just a bit, "It's... what you do."

Jane smiled back just a bit, then she took a deep breath. "Still. I shouldn't. You put yourself out there..."

"...so to speak."

"I love you Maura. And, I mean, I'm your go to girl for all those crazy, messy, crappy emotions right? So, we can figure this out. Whatever it is, or isn't. Hey-" Jane put a hand to Maura's cheek so she would look up, "You forgave me for shooting your father. This- this is nothing. And whether the outcome is a wedding in the Public Garden or going back to being best friends, we'll get through this too. Figure it all out together." Jane wiped away a tear that rolled down Maura's cheek, "Oh crap, don't cry though."

"Thank you Jane."

Jane rolled her eyes, trying to defuse the situation again, "Am I gonna have to kiss you again?"

Maura smiled, "I wouldn't say no to that."

"The food-" Carol fumbled for her cell phone. She and Vixen were somewhere over Southern Maine. She was late, and it was bad, she could feel it in her magically infused bones.

She could only barely hear Bernard when he picked up, "It's the food. Something's in the food. Vixen's much better after a couple of good carrots and some rest." She paused and tried to speak over the wind, "It's. In. The. Food."

Then she hung up, because she was over Storybrooke, Maine. "Vixen, let's go save Mrs. Claus."